Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Artist Dreams

Alternate Lives
Exercise for Artist's Way: List other lives I might want to lead, choose one to explore in more detail.

1. Photo-Journalist
2. Sculptor
3. Large Canvas Artist
4. Writer
5. Author of epic novels
6. Psycho-Therapist
7. Travel Journalist
8. Blogger (with a large following!)
9. Cinematographer
10. Movie Critic
11. Hermit
12. Composer

For the exercise as written in the book, the assignment was to think up 5 alternate lives.  I knew I had more than 5 in my imagination, so I decided to push the limit of how many I could genuinely envision with pleasure. 

For the most part, I have already lived the several lives I really want, and am currently approximating what is ideal for me at this time. The life I really want is one in which I have most of my time to myself, mostly to think, to ponder, to germinate the creative spirit within me, to dream, to plan.  Also to read, write, and simply putter in the environs where I want to work.  As for earning a living, I am happiest as a Piano Teacher, and independent artist.  While I loved playing for mass, I didn't particularly love working for The Church.  It seems to me that the emphases get off-kilter when there is so much focus on the hierarchy, and these days there is more of that generally and especially in my little "neck of the woods."  I started to feel the "trees" I loved so much were shutting out too much Son Light.  I know there is a place for all dimensions/facets/paradigms of The Church, but for me the balance isn't healthy in the day-to-day machinations of the local church, and I foresee it getting "worse" in the near future.  I am confident God will use everyone and everything toward God's Glory and our good, but the meanwhile is critical for my health.  God has given me a cornucopia of gifts, talents, opportunities, and capacities for pleasure and meaning; I choose to choose freedom, bliss, expansive thinking, growth.  Praise be Jesus!

As for "alternate lives" I tend to think in terms of things I'd like to do.  I'm already being who I want to be.  Given the list I made, it looks like most of my dreams have to do with writing and/or creating visuals.  For the second part of the exercise I choose to explore why I think I want to be a "Writer."
See next post!